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The
Barenboim-Said Foundation |
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For the last six years, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has demonstrated that music is a successful way to break down barriers that were previously insurmountable. |
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The Barenboim-Said Foundation aims to: • Promote coexistence and interaction amongst
cultures through music. |
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“Our project may not change
the world, but it is a step forward. Edward Said and myself see
our project as an ongoing dialogue, where the universal, metaphysical
language of music links with the continuous dialogue that we have
with young people, and that young people have with each other” “In our work and planning and discussions
our main principle is that separation between peoples is not a solution
for any of the problems that divide peoples. And certainly ignorance
of the other provides no help whatever. Cooperation and co-existence
of the kind that music lived as we have lived, performed, shared
and loved it together, might be. I, for one am full of optimism
despite the darkening sky and the seemingly hopeless situation for
the time being that encloses us all.” |
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| The Birth of an Idea: The West Eastern Divan Orchestra was conceived by Daniel Barenboim, currently Music Director of the Staat soper Berlin, and the late Edward W. Said, University Professor at Columbia University. The orchestra is composed of young musicians from Israel, the various Arab countries and Spain and seeks to combine musical study and development with the sharing of knowledge and awareness between people from different cultures and back grounds. |
| Structure and Program: The West-Eastern Divan Workshop takes place each summer in Andalusia, Spain, followed by a tour. Andalusia itself the model for coexistence between the three monotheisms is a central feature in the choice of this location. The Workshop is also a forum for reflection, discussions and mutual understanding on various subjects ranging from music to literature, philosophy, history and politics. The only political aspect that perme ates the Workshop is the understanding that there can be no military solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. |
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To achieve these goals, the Foundation sends music teachers to live and teach in Ramallah. Other projects include activities in Nablus and Bethlehem amongst others. The Foundation cooperates with numerous local institutions.
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